Denny wrote:
: The lugs are steel and are plated with a metal that is less reactive to
: both Cu and Al... Along with that I dip the cable end into antioxident
: grease (NOALOX) before crimping the lug onto it... Then I wrap the
: connection with self vulcanizing rubber (3M - at any electrical
: distributor catering to contractors) to block moisture entry... The
: cables on Fat Albert are of 1956 vintage (assembly date 1957) and the
: original lugs look clean with no evidence of powdering, etc. at the
: crimp point... Also, the fat boy is hangared in an insulated hangar,
: other than on trips, which greatly reduces condensation corrosion of
: interior parts...

Exactly... done right there's no reason why aluminum cables can't be used. If
done improperly (as most of the aging fleet are likely to have succumed to), it'll get
ugly.

: On the "cable extension kit" I didn't see that and the sales lady
: obviously never heard of it.. Actually, I like my 2-0 cable and lugs
: better than what they would have likely provided... I just didn't like
: the surprise of finding the gap which cost me a 3 day delay and an
: additional 50 mile round trip to solve...

Weird. The guy I talked with when we went to buy ours mentioned a few
different types. Maybe look it up pretending it's for a Cherokee?

: On the self induction current holding the solenoid in for 'seconds' - I
: haven't noticed that but I will pay attention and let the group know if
: I do see it...

Er... by "seconds" I guess I mean between 1 and 2 seconds. Not very long, but
it's a long time to hear the grinding/ringing of the ring gear driving the bendix
starter.

-Cory

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************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering candidate Ph.D. graduate student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
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